Exciting News

 I’m proud to announce that last night I finished writing my latest novel. The story is told from the perspective of three very different women who have one thing in common – a one-room schoolhouse built in 1860.

Emma Thomas, fresh out of high school, becomes the schoolmarm in the small town of Prior Gulch. Not only is she committed to the students that she teaches, but she has also been entrusted with keeping a secret about her schoolhouse.  

Sarah Ford is in her thirties and recently divorced. Decades after the school has closed, she moves into the house next door and soon learns of its secret.

Ellen Jenkins, who is pushing sixty, has been working for the federal government for ten years. She and her team are sent to the school building to destroy it because of its secret, but she will do anything to save it.

What is the secret of this small, brick building? And will these three women, who are committed to it, be able to save it?

When I started writing this book over two years ago, I gave it the working title of “Save Our School.” Pretty lame. At the end of chapter 11, one of Ellen’s partners says, “we can’t rewrite history, but we can rewrite the now.” At that point, I changed the title to “Rewrite the Now.”

Now, however, I’m not so sure that title is as catchy as I first thought. I am racking my brain to think of a new one. So far, the only other thing I’ve come up with is: “Where We Were Prior” (as the town is Prior Gulch and the whole premise is preserving our history);

If you would like to read the rough draft, I’d be happy to email you a copy. Just remember, it still needs a lot of editing, but I’d like to know what people think of the premise, the people, and their problems. And, of course, what you think an appropriate title might be.

Thanks so much. Chris 

Once I have a title, I next need to work on the cover. This picture of my great-grandmother was taken around 1910. A bit later than when Emma was teaching at the school, but I still imagine this is what she might have looked like. Do you think I could incorporate it into the cover? 

Monthly Check-In

 I’ve been posting my monthly goals on the first Sunday of every month. I wanted to post an update sooner than today, as we are a week into August already, but such is life.

I’m not going to lie. I did stupendous on my July goals. Success, or at least close, on every point. I’m lovin’ this retirement gig! Or I had been until I ended up working three and a half days this week. Argh!

My July goals:

1.     Write twelve chapters in “RTN”. Done!

2.     Think about a new title for the novel. “Rewrite the Now” is no longer as catchy as it was when I started. A vague goal. I thought about some but came up with nothing.

3.     Think about a cover and other promotions for it. Another vague goal. And another one which I thought about, a lot, actually. Nothing jumping out at me though.

4.     Start organizing the pictures on my laptop. Yes, I worked on this a lot.  

5.     Clean the cat’s room in the basement. Yes, done!

I have managed to over-book myself for the month of August. Camping for five days, friend from out of state coming for four days, visit to see Hubby’s brother for three days, my sister’s class reunion (a long story of why I have to go). I count money at church every Sunday. I have a dentist’s appointment. Hubby has an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon for his knee. And I even scheduled an appointment to donate blood! In addition to the fact that I already worked three and a half days this month.

It's going to be okay, though. Except that someone at work just turned in their two-week notice, so I’m waiting for the manager to call begging me to work whenever I can. But you know what else, once I get through this month and September, I am off to Kenya for the first two weeks in October. It has been three long years (thank you, Covid) since I’ve been to Africa and I cannot wait to see our friends who live there. We are also hoping to take a trip to the coast of the Indian Ocean, which looks amazing. CANNOT WAIT!

But, I still have to get things done in August:

1.     Finish writing my novel, “Rewrite the Now.” (I only have about five or six more chapters to write.)

2.     Come up with some cover concepts for it.

3.     Keep organizing the photos on my laptop.

4.     Wash half of the windows in my house.

5.     Tend to my vegetable garden, freezing what can be frozen and tearing down what is done for the season.

That should about do it, I think.

Wishing you the very best. Chris 

Our weekly July camping trip to Michigan. Had a wonderful time. And wrote almost every day.